California school administrator to lead Juneau school district

The Juneau School Board has chosen a school administrator from California to be the next leader of the district.

In an announcement made late Monday night, the board selected Mark Miller for superintendent.

Miller is assistant superintendent of human resources at Hayward Unified School District in California. He described it as a large urban school district with 21,000 students in 32 schools.

Miller said he has experience negotiating contracts and handling tough personnel issues. He’s also been a high school principal and science teacher. He has a Doctorate of Education from the University of La Verne in California.

This will be Miller’s first superintendent position.

Miller was one of three finalists to interview for the job Monday. The other candidates were Angie Lunda, superintendent of the Hoonah School District, and Rick Williams, director of administrative services of Region 10 Education Service Center in Texas.

The school board contracted Iowa-based search firm Ray and Associates, Inc. to conduct the superintendent search. The advertised salary was $162,000. Sixty-five people applied.